Police collar drunk doing school run

A Wanganui man will appear in court next month after driving a child to school allegedly while he was drunk yesterday morning.

Police received a complaint about the 36-year-old man's driving and pulled him over in Totara St at 8.30am.

He failed a roadside breath test and was then taken to Wanganui police station, where he failed an evidential breath test. His breath-alcohol reading was more than 600mg of alcohol/litre of breath - exceeding the legal limit by more than 200mg.

Acting Sergeant Fraser Overweel said there was a child in the vehicle at the time and police took the child - believed to be the man's 9-year-old son - to school.

A Wanganui police spokesman said he could not recall them ever delivering a child to school in such circumstances, though police would not keep records of such incidents.

"Police would always look to put the needs of the child first in such circumstances," he said.

The driver's licence was suspended for 28 days, and he will appear in the Wanganui District Court on July 18 charged with driving with excess breath alcohol.

Police said that it was likely Child, Youth and Family would be notified.